I photographed this digital live sound video this past Wednsday night, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

My 1960's era switching local freight train from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad complete with an Alco S 4 still wearing the 1950's era Santa Fe "Zebra Stripe" color scheme, enters and crosses the model representing a lift bridge over the Missisippi River on the club layout.

I was driving eastbound on West 51st Street in Chicago's Elsdon neighborhood one lovely but chilly springtime morning, back in April of 2007.

Having my camera with me that morning, I could not resist the opportunity to stop, and take the time to photograph what was left of the former Grand Trunk Western Railroad's Elsdon Yard, which the GTW closed in October of 1983.

Seen here along the north side of West 51st Street east of South Lawndale Avenue, is the former GTW Elsdon Yard track department office building. This building now surrounded by tall barbed wire chain link fencing, was now graffiti tagged on the sides, and featured the logo of the 1999 succesor railroad Canadian National on a sign.

After the Grand Trunk Western moved their switching operations to the Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard when Elsdon had closed, a portion of the former GTW Elsdon Yard site, would become a railroad owned construction materials storage depot.

Not much of Elsdon Yard reamins today, and portions of the property are gradually seeing commercial and residential real estate redevelopment in slow stages. I fondly recall spending much time railfanning here unfortunately minus a camera, when I attended nearby Curie High School from 1977 to 1981.

The old GTW Elsdon Yard facility, helped to shape my railfan character to what it is today.

I took this photograph this past Wednsday night, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

Growing up on the near southwest side of Chicago during the 1960's, 70's and 80's eras, I have been a lifelong fan of the former Atchsion, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.

Prior to the 1995 merger with the Burlington Northern Railroad thus becoming the BNSF Railway, many local railfans like Myself fondly recall the bright red Santa Fe steel cupola cabooses wearing the bright vermillion red color scheme with the large yellow circular Santa Fe logo during the 1970's and 80's.

In 1966, the management at the A,T & S,F, had felt that it was time to rebuild and upgrade their steel late steam era cabooses at the Company's railroad shops in Cleburne Texas. Many refinements like roller bearing trucks, cushioned underframes, fewer and now sealed side windows, air conditioning and the "New" bright vermillion red color scheme with the large yellow circular Santa Fe logo, would become the final word in Santa Fe caboose color schemes.

This Athearn caboose, is viewed bringing up the rear of my 1960's era Santa Fe switching local, as it was crossing the model of a lift bridge over the Missisippi River at the Illinois / Iowa state line section of the club layout.

A popular seasonal attraction for railfans and wintertime ski and snowboarding enthusiasts alike, is the little 2 foot guage steam train operated at the Loon Mountain Ski resort in the state of New Hapshire.
This wood burning and somewhat possibly "Americanized" meter guage 0-4-0 industrial steam locomotive from Germany, transports the skiers from the boarding station, to the ski lifts and back in open cars.
This little steam train operates during the winter season only.
Thanks.
Eddie K.

I took this photograph at Hayford Junction on the southwest side of Chicago, way back in March of 1990.

It is the early years of today's mega CSX Transportation Company, and locomotives from several fallen flag predescor railroads acquired through recent mergers, are seen on a daily basis around the greater Chicagoland area.

Heading westbound (Left), we see a cut of CSX owned and yet to be repainted former Seaboard System General Electric locomotives, crossing the now single track Grand Trunk Western crosstrack at Hayford Junction. These engines are enroute to the nearby Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard facility.

In the forground to the right, is fellow local Chicago area railfan Bob Cliff with his camera.

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illlinois USA.

Nostalgia is one of the key elements that drives the stories, photographs and creativity here at Eddie's Railfan Page.

One of my favorite things I had grown up with in Chicago during the 1960's and 70's era, were these in both table side juke Boxes. These were mostly found back in those days inside Pizzeria restaurants, Ice cream parlors, Street corner Diners, and occasionally a neighborhood tavern or two.

These had mostly disappeared from Chicago by the 1980's. Luckilly this operating example that was found working today alive and well, is located at a place known as Margie's Candies. This 1950's era ice cream soda fountain and candy store establishment from Chicago's past, is located at 1960 North Western Avenue in Chicago.

Another establishment that had these in booth jukeboxes on the southwest side of Chicago, was the old Chesdan's Pizza, which was located at South Archer and Spaulding Avenues in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood.

I took this photograph one lovely springtime afternoon, way back in April of 1984.

Looking north from the viaduct at South Archer Avenue and West 47th Street in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood, there is a lot of switching activity to be done at the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad's Corwith Yard facility under clear skies and warm temperatures.

One of my many happy memories growing up in Chicago during the 1960's and early 1970's era, was
enjoying a very well deserved Saturday morning tv viewing session, watching a number of favorite
children's cartoon shows.
After a hard week of school homework, school bullys and other hardships that seem tame by today's
everyday standards, Saturday morning was definately "My Time" to watch television. This was that
fabled land of Co Coa Puffs breakfast cereal commercials, toy advertisements, and plugs for other
pre teen product sales pitches between the cartoon showings.
One of my personal favorites, was a musical cartoon show that made it's debut in the fall of 1968
known as "The Archie's", and was based on the popular comic book characters of the same name. The
show's opening which I spotted on You Tube recently, really took me back in time to a much happier
and simpler era I once knew firsthand as a kid myself. Wow!
Some of my other favorite cartoon shows I watched back then during the 1960's and 70's were as follows
George of the jungle, The Beatles, Yogi Bear, The Harlem Globe Trotter's, Scooby Doo, Magilla Gorilla,
Hoppity Hooper, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, The Blue Falcon and Dynamutt, Josie and the
Pussycat's, Jabber Jaws and many more.
Happy memories!
Thanks.
Eddie K.

Well folks...it is now officially "Springtime" on the calendar here in the greater Chicagoland area. However, these outdoor temperatures in the upper 30's combined with the dampness from the remaining but slowly melting piles of snow...makes it feel like "Winter Didn't Get The Message Yet"!

I thought that I would spread a little warmth here with this photograph I took last summer in north suburban Morton Grove Illinois.

Not to worry everyone. The grass could very well start turning from straw brown to green any day now, and soon many local Chicago area residents will start preparing their gardens for the upcoming warm weather seasons in the near future.

Facing south / southeast from the top of the West 87th Street overpass bridge in southwest suburban Bridgeview Illinois, we see a southbound CSX Transportation Company transfer train of empty intermodal double stack container cars, traveling over the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad.

For all the fans of Brittish railway subjects here at Eddie's Railfan Page, I now present
a video I found on You Tube, from the popular tourist railway in England known as the
Bluebelle Railway.
Thanks.
Eddie K.

I took this photograph last year, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

My Walter's Trainline Series model of an EMD GP 15 light roadswitcher from the late 1970's era, is viewed pulling a Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad local freight train from that period on the club layout.

Hello everyone!
This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer here at Eddie's Railfan Page.
I was born in Chicago during the year of 1962, and I have happy childhood memories
of riding and observing the Chicago Transit Authority's fleet of electric powered
trolleybuses, during their final years of operation on Chicago's many city streets.
Chicago's trolleybuses reigned in daily transit service from 1930 until 1973.
Electric trolleybuses were originally a cost effective way to augment service on transit
routes, rather than build new streetcar routes by the late 1920's. Although electric city
streetcars were the industry standard since the 1890's, they would prove to be costly to
operate and maintain. The Chicago Surface Lines Company ( 1914 -1947) began experimenting
with gasoline powered transit buses from the Twin Coach Company of Kent Ohio in 1927, and
later electric trolleybuses begining in 1930. The old gasoline powered buses and the early
electric trolleybuses, were originally used in feeder route extension service, traveling a
few miles or so past the streetcar terminals. The CSL trolleybuses would soon prove to be
a popular mode of public transportation, as they were pollution free, quiet and smooth riding.
When introduced, the CSL trolleybuses were cost effective, as they used existing overhead wires
and on line power substations used by the electric streetcars.
After the succesor company known as the Chicago Transit Authority began operations on October 1st,
1947 new streetcars and buses that were ordered by the CSL during World War 2 were delivered. Buses
would prove to be economical to operate, and some electric streetcar routes would substitute buses
on weekends. Buses also featured the flexibility of operation that electric streetcars couldn't offer.
Between 1947 and 1955, several former electric streetcar lines were converted to electric trolleybus
operation using the existing overhead wires and facilities once used by the streetcars. New gasoline,
propane and diesel buses were delivered to the CTA during this period as well, as a number of former
streetcar lines converted to motor bus operation from the start.
Just as high operating, maintenance costs and traffic accidents eventually did in the Chicago city
streetcars by 1958, the same operating and maintenance costs eventually caught up to the operations
of Chicago's electric trolleybuses. Overhead wires needed to be constantly maintained, sometimes they
would require expensive and specialized repairs. The trolleybuses themselves were straight electric
vehicles that could only operate on routes with overhead wires. Eventually the buses would become prone
to numerous mechanical failures. Chicago''s first trolleybus route Rt # 76 Diversey Avenue from 1930, was
converted to diesel and propane bus operation in June of 1955. Begining in 1959, the remaining CTA electric
trolleybus routes were phased out on a one by one, case by case basis through out the 1960's and early 1970's.
New diesel buses from General Motors and Flxible delivered in the early to mid 1960's, helped hasten the demise
of Chicago's electric trolleybuses.
Although the final operation of CTA trolleybuses took place on Sunday, March 25th 1973, the last two in service
on that day, are preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois, and are operated occasionally for
the public at this wonderful transportation museum. www.irm.org
Thanks.
Eddie K.

A southbound Chicago Transit Authority Route # 52A / South Kedzie bus, is viewed crossing the intersection at South Kedzie Avenue and West 87th Street, in south suburban Evergreen Park Illinois on an overcast afternoon.

I took this photograph one afternoon after work, back in March of 2007.

For many years begining during the early 1950's, many local Baby Boomer residents of west suburban Cicero Illinois, as well as many from the Chicago side of the border, would park their cars and enjoy an outdoor movie on the giant twin screens of the Bell Air Drive In Movie Theatre during the late spring, summer and early autum seasons.

This drive in movie theatre eventually fell on hard times by the late 1970's and early 1980's, as video movie rentals and VCR's began taking over for movie goers who would now rather stay at home instead. Eventually, local street gangs and other urban riff raff elements were rumored to have taken over on the visiting theatre patronage, sometimes causing fights and other disturbances.

The Bell Air Drive In Movie Theatre eventually closed in 1999, and various buildings like the concession stand, entrance gate, marquee and drive in ticket booth, were demolished in stages over the next several years. The giant twin screens which cars would actually drive through like a tunnel, was recently demolished by the time of this visit. Only the wrecking crane, some debris and the tall dirt walls remained.

Some construction work was started on the site by 2009, with much of the land being levalled for a future Super Wall Mart store, which I do not believe has not materialized just yet.

I visited the Bell Air Drive In Movie Theatre which was located at the southeast corner of South Cicero Avenue and west 31st Street a few times with my family duringthe early 1970's. I seem to recall that we seen the Barbara Streisand movie "Whats Up Doc", the Steve Mc Queen movie "Bullet", the Vincent Price horror movie "Doctor Phibes Rises Again", a few childrens Walt Disney movies, and Dustin Hoffman in the Native American movie "Little Big Man."

The drive in movie era has long since ended in the greater Chicagoland area.

I took this photograph during a lovely springtime afternoon, way back in April of 1987.

We are on location at Hayford Junction, located at West 75th Street and South Central Park Avenue in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood on the southwest side of the city.

An eastbound Belt Railway of Chicago transfer train being pulled by an old first generation EMD TR 4 Cow and Calf switcher team, approach the Grand Trunk Western crosstracks at Hayford Junction with several tons in tow.

I photographed this digital live sound video last year, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.
A 1960's era local freight from the former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad being pulled by my own Bachman Alco S 4 yard switcher locomotive in the 1950's era Santa Fe zebra stripe color scheme, (Some of these did not get repainted immediately after the introduction of the blue and yellow color scheme in 1960.) rolls past the depot along a curve on the club layout.

We are visiting south suburban Evergreen Park Illinois on a sunny but cold winter day.

With seasonal early darkness approaching near the 4:00 PM hour, we see the Bleeker's Bowl, the Phillip's 66 Village Car Wash, and other local business establishments looking east on West 95th Street in the remaining rays of winter sunshine.

Time was running out for the historic 1911 built NorthWestern Station in downtown Chicago, as the classic old structure would be demolished begining in June of that year.

Already a rare sight by this time, were the RTA / Metra double deck Gallery commuter cars that were still wearing the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad's yellow and green color scheme. Most of them had been replaced with the late 1970's era RTA color scheme shown on the cars to the left.

I snapped this 35mm photograph just in time, as the yellow and green Chicago & NorthWestern scheme train was just begining to depart from the station, and was slowly moving in low lighting conditions.

I took this photograph , at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

Although working many long overtime working hours combined with many days of unpleasant and sometimes severe winter weather has kept me away from the club nearly the past two months, I am planning on returning to it hopefully soon.

I have been to the city of Louisville Kentucky a handful of times in past years.
A popular local attraction in the city of Louisville Kentucky, are the three hour excursion cruises along the Ohio River, aboard the sternwheel steamboat known as the Belle of Louisville.
Here is a video I spotted on You Tube, featuring the Belle of Louisville in all of it's smoking, steaming and paddle wheel thumping glory.

A southbound Chicago Transit Authority brown line rapid transit train, is viewed making the Montrose Avenue station stop in the background. Prior to the 1993 CTA color coding of the rapid transit routes, this line for many years was known as the Ravenswood Elevated Line.

I was passing through the town of South Elgin Illinois one winter afternoon back in December of 2007, and just couldn't resist the opportunity to photograph some of the equipment at the Fox River Trolley Museum, which was already closed for the season.

Chicago's first CTA 6000 series lightweight rapid transit cars from the early 1950's, and several other pieces of electric interurban railway equipment, are on display for all to see, ride and enjoy during the museum's operating season begining in May, and operating to the end of October. Sometimes December Christmas holiday special trains are run here as well.

I took this photograph after work one late afternoon, back in June of 2007.

We are on location at Cragin Junction, which is the north terminal for the Belt Railway of Chicago just a few city blocks east of the intersection of North Grand and Cicero Avenues in Chicago's Cragin neighborhood.

Waiting on the interchange curve connection, is a soon to be westbound Norfolk Southern freight train, waiting for several afternoon Metra rush hour commuter trains to pass by on the Canadian Pacific ex Milwaukee Road mainline.

Well folks, it is now officially the begining of the springtime season here in the greater Chicagoland area. Well...at least on the calendar anyway

Early 2013, has been a very long, snowy and bitterly cold winter season in Chicago. This Ford snowplow truck complete with a heavy duty roadsalt hopper, was constantly busy day and night clearing the snow and ice build up in local business parking lots.

Once the weather warms up, hopefully soon....it will be time to put these vehicles like this one to other uses.

This is Eddie K, your host and photographer here at Eddie's Railfan Page.

Being an avid photographer, I sometimes would just point my camera, and photograph ordinary everyday subjects in public. Many years later, these would sometimes become valuable reference photographs for future generations to enjoy.

I took this photograph in Chicago's Mount Greenwood neighborhood on South Kedzie Avenue near West 109th Street, way back in December of 1986.

Seen here back when the everyday times were still a simple affair in Chicago, but not for much longer...is the old storefront neighborhood Mount Greenwood branch of the Chicago Public Library.

I took this photograph during a lovely springtime afternoon, way back in April of 1987.

An eastbound Belt Railway of Chicago transfer train, is viewed passing through Hayford Junction at West 75th Street and South Central Park Avenue, in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood on the southwest side of Chicago.

An eastbound Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit train operating over the former Douglas Park rapid transit line, is viewed departing from the Cicero Avenue station in west suburban Cicero Illinois.

A local railroad scrap yard operation is located in the former Chesapeke & Ohio Railroad's Rockwell Street yard east of South Kedzie Avenue. This particular scrap firm, is utilizing this rebuilt EMD SW 1 yard switcher as their in plant switcher.

A northbound Norfolk Southern transfer train with former Norfolk & Western diesel locomotives up front, enters the old swing bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, as it travels over the Belt Railway of Chicago east of Cicero Illinois.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.

This photograph was taken by my beloved Aunt Thereasa way back in 1979.

My Aunt Thereasa Horvath who sadly is no longer with us, took this photograph at work one day from her downtown Chicago syscraper office building she worked at.

This view facing east, shows how the downtown Chicago skyline looked like during the late 1970's. To the left can be seen the twin apartment towers of Marina City along the Chicago River, while to the far right, we can see the John Hancock Tower building with it's twin red and white broadcast antennas.

Jack was a man I had the pleasure of meeting at Chicagoland Hobby, while I was shopping there one evening after work. My encounter with him, was one of those "Rare" brushes with "Fame", when somebody actually recognizes me from hosting "Eddie's Railfan Page". Jack had approached me and said.."Excuse Me, but are you Eddie K from Eddie's Railfan Page?" I delightedly answered "Yes I am"

Jack had just recently completed this lovely H.O Scale scratchbuilt model, of a 1950's era Chicago Transit Authority 6000 Series single unit / Married pair lightweight rapid transit car.The prototype and the almost identical 550 Series single unit cars, were manufactured by the St. Louis Car Company, using components from recently retired and scrapped CTA PCC streamlined streetcars through out the 1950's.

These cars helped to re equip and upgrade the existing rapid transit system in Chicago at a cost savings.

Jacks models are how the 6000 series cars were delivered with low headlights, upper destination signs, and the original Mercury green, Corydon cream with a Swamp Holly orange belt rail.

I took this photograph on a bitterly cold winter morning, back in February of 2010.

We are facing west on Maple Avenue, in north suburban Wilmette Illinois. A northbound Chicago Transit Authority purple line rapid transit train, is viewed entering the Linden Avenue terminal and yard at the end of the line.

I took this photograph one morning during my lunch break, back in early March of 2011.

An EMD yard switcher diesel electric locomotive from the Chicago Terminal Railroad, is viewed serving the various railroad spur sidings with pick ups and set outs in Elk Grove Village Illinois near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

For many years when I used to live on the southwest side of Chicago, I always enjoyed the variety of inexpensive and often tasty neighborhood street corner eateries.

One of those places I enjoyed, was this little establishment at the northeast corner of South Archer and Austin Avenues in Chicago's Garfield Ridge neighborhood, that was known as "Nicky's". This little Greek owned neighborhood take out eatery, was refered to by many local southside Chicagoans and myself as "Nicky's Gyros".

I was a regular visitor to this Nicky's, and some of their other unoffial satelite locations like the one at West 47th Street east of South Kedzie Avenue, or the one I west to on South Kedzie Avenue and West 58th Street.

One of my happy and cost effective dining memories of Nicky's during the 1970's and 80's, were the lunchtime specials. One of them was the "99 Cent Big Baby Double Cheesburger" or the 3 Hot Dog Special for $1.25. I was earning minimum wage earnings at a few of my jobs after I graduated from Curie High School in 1981, and Nicky's was well within my budget back then.

Although Nicky's is a tiny place with a counter along the windows to dine inside at, the people who worked here were very nice to me. It was a southside neighborhood establishment with a quaint but unique local neighborhood charm.

After being away from here for many years, I had the opportunity to stop in recently, and enjoy some of those fast food favorites I used to eat here. You can still find the Big Baby Double Cheesburger here today, as well as that Grecian favorite Gyros, deep fried Pizza Puffs, the Tamale Boat (Chilli and a Tamale) or even the Tamale on a Bun which some southside Chicagoan's refer to as a "Mother in Law".